The cutoff that physicians use for true fever is 100.4 degrees, and its the same for everybody.Now, granted many people will have temperatures lower than 98.6 when well, but its a misconception that this means your fever threshold is lower than what it is for others. When we are well, our temperature normally fluctuates between around 96 and 99 degrees. Taken orally, temperature can really fluctuate depending on how long its been since youve eaten or drunk something hot or cold.Now, to address your scenario regarding your sick daughter whose temp was 99.1. When someone gets sick (with a cold, or what have you), he/she can feel really bad and still not have a fever. I guess what Im trying to say is that just because the medical community didnt label the 99.1 as a fever, doesnt mean that the illness wasnt valid. Temperature is just a tool that health professionals use as a piece of the puzzle when trying to figure out whats wrong with someone whos sick. It should never be used to decide that This person is not sick because she doesnt have a fever.As for your son, Im sorry the nurse ignored you–there would have been better ways to handle the situation. Chances are that they were taking rectal temperatures on your son, and they are more reliable than oral ones (theyre also usually about a degree higher). Newborns that cant maintain normal body temperature can be giving an early sign that theyre very very sick. They were just being cautious.Anyways, I hope I was able to clear up a bit of the seeming discrepancy about what fever is and isnt. It really boils down to the need for the medical world to agree on where to draw the line and then stick to it.